Pulmonary vein leiomyosarcoma.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S Bemanian.
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BACKGROUND: We have recently demonstrated that prolonged hypobaric hypoxia can lead to a hematocrit-independent sustained arterial hypertension (HTN) in genetically normotensive Sprague-Dawley rats. The rise in blood pressure in the hypoxic animals was accompanied by a marked but transient increase in plasma endothelin level. In addition, hypoxia has been shown to decrease nitric oxide (NO) production by cultured endothelial cells. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that hypoxia-induced HTN may be mediated by increased endothelin and/or decreased NO production. METHODS: Blood pressure, plasma endothelin and urinary NO metabolites (NOx)were monitored in rats during a 24-hour exposure to hypobaric hypoxia (air pressure = 390 mm Hg). The results were compared with hypoxia (air pressure = 390 mm Hg). The results were compared with those obtained in animals maintained under normoxic condition (control group). To test the possible role of excess endothelin and depressed NO production, the studies were repeated using subgroups of animals treated with either an endothelin receptor ET-A/B blocker (L-754,142) or L-arginine. RESULTS: The untreated hypoxic group exhibited a threefold rise in plasma endothelin and a threefold fall in urinary NOx, prior to the onset of HTN. Endothelin receptor blockade led to a further fall in urinary NOx excretion and failed to mitigate HTN. In contrast, L-arginine supplementation improved the urinary NOx excretion and prevented HTN. Neither therapy affected the hypoxia-induced erythrocytosis. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that hypoxia-induced HTN is associated with depressed NO production and can be mitigated by L-arginine supplementation.
Effects of iron overload on intestinal function and structure are unknown and were, therefore, investigated. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into an iron-overloaded group, which received a single subcutaneous injection of 1.2 g/kg elemental iron-dextran complex, and placebo-treated pair-fed controls. Animals were studied after a 10-month observation period. Intestinal permeability was assessed by measuring the urinary excretion of lactulose, rhamnose, and mannitol after oral administration. In addition, tissue nonheme iron content was measured, and histologic examination and morphometric measurements were carried out. The chronic iron-overloaded group showed a significant increase in intestine tissue iron content and stainable iron in the submucosa and muscularis propria and adipose tissue of the small intestine and lamina propria and muscularis mucosa of the large intestine. There was a significant decrease in the crypt depths without discernible change in the intestine permeability to any of the markers used. In addition, the iron-overloaded animals showed a significant number of iron-laden cells, which primarily consisted of macrophages, fibroblasts, myocytes, and adipocytes. In contrast, no iron-laden cells were present in tissues obtained from the normal control group. Thus, chronic experimental iron overload in rats leads to significant morphologic, but no permeability, alterations of the alimentary tract.